Shloka 20

Śalya-parva Adhyāya 34: Balarāma’s Withdrawal, Sarasvatī Pilgrimage Logistics, and Prabhāsa as Soma’s Renewal Tīrtha

Devanagari script

स बभौ राजमध्यस्थो नीलवासा: सितप्रभ:

Transliteration

sa babhau rājamadhyastho nīlavāsāḥ sitaprabhaḥ

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Nakatindig sa gitna ng mga hari, siya’y nagningning—nakasuot ng bughaw at kumikislap sa puting liwanag—at ang kanyang presensya’y nagbukod sa kanya sa kapulungan ng mga pinuno, sa masidhing himig ng payong-digma at tunggalian.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बभौ: shone/appeared
• बभौ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथम, एकवचन

• राजमध्यस्थः: standing in the midst of kings
• राजमध्यस्थः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज-मध्य-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नीलवासाः: wearing blue garments
• नीलवासाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील-वासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सितप्रभः: of white radiance; shining white
• सितप्रभः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• kings (rājānaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how inner stature and role in a critical moment are conveyed through outward presence: in a royal assembly shaped by dharma and conflict, a figure’s composure and radiance can signal authority, destiny, or moral weight without explicit argument.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a prominent figure positioned among the kings, distinguished by blue attire and a striking white radiance, emphasizing his visibility and significance within the gathered rulers during the events of the Shalya Parva.